בארה"ב מזהירים: המצלמות הסיניות משמשות לריגול

Homeland Security says Beijing is able to launch spy activities and disrupt key infrastructure on U.S. soil by using internet-connected cameras made in China. That's according to an ABC News report Thursday. In a bulletin issued to ABC News, the Department of Homeland Security mentioned three features of Chinese-made cameras that could allow Beijing to use them as spy tools. Those are a lack of data encryption, subpar security settings, and that their default settings allow Chinese manufacturers to communicate with the devices. The DHS warns that as of early last year, a large number of these cameras were in use inside hundreds of key networks in the U.S., including in the chemical and energy sectors. The big picture concern is that the cameras could help Beijing gain access to or even manipulate those key American systems, made possible by looser regulations on using these devices. So exactly how many are out there? The department estimates that at least 12,000 were installed in critical infrastructure networks across the U.S. as of early 2024. That figure saw a 40 percent jump from 2023 to 2024. Even though the Federal Communications Commission office banned purchases from several leading Chinese camera manufacturers three years ago. The bulletin adds that Chinese state-funded hackers have already extensively targeted the vulnerabilities of these Chinese cameras for the past five years, meaning DHS's concerns could easily become reality. As of now, the U.S. government's efforts to block out these products are limited. Here's why. Sanctioned foreign businesses often use a strategy known as white labeling to skirt U.S. sanctions. The method is simple. Retailers first import cameras from Chinese manufacturers and then repackage the products with their own labels and sell them on the public market. DHS says one way to counter this loophole is to spread tools that can help identify Chinese cameras, especially those that have been white labeled.